Most website visitors aren’t human. They’re bots. And these automated accounts are having serious, real-world impact; from the 2016 election to the <a href="https://twitter.com/FCC">FCC</a>’s recent, controversial net neutrality vote. <a href="https://twitter.com/Veronica">Veronica Belmont</a> investigates the rise of social media bots with <a href="https://twitter.com/laurenkunze">Lauren Kunze</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/jennschiffer">Jenn Schiffer</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/lmneudert">Lisa-Maria Neudert</a> measures how bots influence politics. <a href="https://twitter.com/butter_ai">Butter.ai</a>’s <a href="https://twitter.com/Jackolicious">Jack Hirsch</a> talks about what happens when your profile is stolen by a political bot. <a href="https://twitter.com/benimmo">Ben Nimmo</a> teaches us how to spot and take down bot armies. And <a href="https://twitter.com/timhwang">Tim Hwang</a> explores how bots can connect us in surprising, and meaningful, new ways.
IRL is an original podcast from <a href="https://www.mozilla.org/">Mozilla</a>. For more on the series go to <a href="https://irlpodcast.org/">irlpodcast.org</a>
Bots, they’re just like you and me. Except easier to find, especially on Twitter. :) Here’s a handy <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/internetcitizen/2017/01/08/irl-how-to-spot-a-bot/">guide to spotting bots in social media</a>, plus the answers to the bot-or-not quiz you heard on the episode.
Leave a rating or review in <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1247652431">Apple Podcasts</a> so we know what you think.

Digital Overload

How does artificial intelligence change when people — not profit — truly come first? Join IRL’s host Bridget Todd, as she meets people around the world building responsible alternatives to the tech that’s changing how we work, communicate, and even listen to music.